Lac de l'Etamine in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lac de l'Etamine lies within the bounds of Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. Elevation runs to 746 metres. It is high ground by Quebec standards. Saint-Honoré at 39 km is the nearest place to stop. Saint-Fulgence is 43 km away, with Chicoutimi at 50 km. Alternatives close at hand: Lac des Pousses near enough 0.8 km, Lac de l'Engeance 1.2 km away, Lac Fane near enough 1.6 km, Lac de la Cocotte 1.6 km away and Lac du Mecreant near enough 1.9 km. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lac de l'Etamine

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean include northern pike, Atlantic salmon, lake whitefish and fallfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Take Lac de l'Etamine a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 15°C and January near -19°C. The fishing year opens late and shuts early. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid May. Averages place the thaw at mid May and the freeze at early November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan around that when you fish Lac de l'Etamine.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Launch at Débarcadère, 950 m from the water. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Lac des Pousses is 0.8 km distant. Check the position at Lac de l'Etamine before loading the car.